After checking out my badge for a few seconds, and thinking how cool this was about to become, I quickly walked on to where I could get down to the stadium’s service level. I walked by the security guard without any questioning and continued on my way. I had no idea where this room was, but having had experience in another sporting venue, I knew I could figure it out They are actually quite simple. I ran through the service corridor past the Indians’ clubhouse, then the Giants’ Clubhouse, the Dugout Suites, and then finally came to the Press Room at 4:33. I was only three minutes late, not as bad as it could have been, but I still missed Omar?s entrance. As I opened the door and peeked in, there sat Vizquel at the front of the room, answering a question about his favorite memories in Cleveland I looked around and just was in awe at first. Was I really here? I have only seen these interviews through a camera lens on the television I totally felt out of place.

Omar continued to answer questions as I got my notepad and audio recorder out, which I learned to use in the car on the way up, and started to record and take notes. I wanted to take a picture, but wasn?t sure if I could at that point It was all focused on Omar?s words The rest of the conference lasted about ten minutes or so. He then got down off of the podium and walked back out of the room right by me. The mass of media continued to follow him down the hallway as he entered the Giants locker room to begin getting himself ready. I had no idea what to do here, so I just continued to follow.

I ended up going down through the Indians’ clubhouse and out onto the field for pregame batting practice. Walking though those hallways, I could not help myself but to think of the Albert Belle tantrums that were thrown back there Don?t ask me why, but that?s what was going through my mind We ended up going up a set of stairs and into the dugout Wow! I just entered the Indians’ dugout Once again, it was soak it all in time I got out of the way and just took my time looking around. The Indians were on the field, taking their batting practice, Cleveland media personalities like Mark Schwab, Andre Knott, Tony Rizzo, Matt Underwood, and others were walking around me I knew I could take pictures here, so I started taking some. I then saw Eric Wedge come into the dugout, and the media swarmed him I knew what was up It was his pregame conference So it was time to get out the recorder and paper again I wanted to ask a question, but I was totally out of it I admit, I was nervous If I spoke I was going to screw up. So I kept my mouth shut and listened to his discussions of new free-agent signings, where the injured Indians were in their rehabs, his memories of Omar, and much more And again, it was totally surreal I usually am sitting at home watching this.

I never thought I would be sitting two seats down in the dugout hearing this. After he finished, I stuck around the field a little while longer, getting more shots as the Indians came off of the field and Omar and the Giants came out. Vizquel came over to the Indians’ side for an interview on a local television station, and I took more pictures of him as I was standing on the dugout steps More on this detail later. After hanging around the dugout and watching the players a while longer, I walked back into the clubhouse and dipped my head into the batting cages for a second to see if anyone was there, but there was no one. I then went back into the locker room to see if anyone was talking.